Ancient Aleppo minaret destroyed in Syria clashes

Ancient Aleppo minaret destroyed in Syria clashes

A picture taken on April 16, 2013 shows the minaret of the Umayyad Mosque complex in the old part of Syria's northern city of Aleppo. After nine months of fighting that has devastated many districts in Aleppo, rebels now control more than half of the city.

An ancient minaret on one of Syria's most famous mosques has been destroyed during clashes in the northern city of Aleppo.

Other parts of the mosque complex have also received extensive damage because of gunfire and shells during many months of fighting.

Some ancient artifacts have also been looted, including a box that is said to contain a strand of the Prophet Muhammad's hair. But rebels have said they saved ancient handwritten Koranic manuscripts and hidden them.